Ghani holds council to set agenda for Taliban talks

KABUL, Apr 29 (AP): Afghanistan's president opened a grand council on Monday of more than 3,200 prominent Afghans seeking to agree on a common approach to peace talks with the Taliban, but the gathering may further aggravate divisions within the US-backed government.

President Ashraf Ghani hopes to showcase unity at the four-day meeting - known as Loya Jirga - that brings together politicians, tribal elders and others.

But Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, his partner in a unity government brokered by the United States after a bitterly disputed election in 2014, heads a list of no-shows.

Ghani's peace envoy Omar Daudzai said they had expected about 2,500 attendees but more than 3,200 gathered for the first day of the Loya Jirga, which ends on Thursday.

They delegates will be divided into groups and committees and discuss negotiating points for future talks with the Taliban.

"We are all here to talk about the framework of peace talks with the Taliban ... reaching a sustainable peace is very important to us," said Ghani in his welcome address to delegates.